McKinsey West Coast

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I joined McKinsey for 3 reasons. First, and most importantly, the people. I was so impressed with the McKinsey consultants I met during recruiting and business school and felt a natural connection with them. Second, I chose McKinsey for the places I would work. McKinsey’s global staffing model appealed to me because I wanted the opportunity to work across the world, without being limited to the industries or functions served by my office colleagues. Finally, I chose McKinsey for the impact I knew I would have. No other firm convinced me that I would have the opportunity to work with industry leading clients on never-before-presented problems.

Building knowledge and pushing boundaries

I’ve been most surprised by the commitment McKinsey has to building knowledge and pushing its own boundaries. There is an opportunity to find information on every topic that you can imagine—from airline pricing to semiconductor marketing. Whatever the topic, there are materials and experts in the firm that can speak to it. The firm, despite its size, is also constantly looking for ways to adapt and change to the evolving business environment it participates in. Our new implementation practice and commercial products evolve to respond to clients’ current needs.

Developing a well-rounded skill set

My McKinsey experience has had a profound impact on me professionally. I have developed a well-rounded skill set and structured thinking that I use daily, not only in my client work but in how I think about the news and how the world works. My McKinsey experience has helped develop my teamwork, management and leadership skills as well by allowing me to work with a diverse group of teammates and clients and requiring me to adapt my leadership and engagement styles to theirs to be effective.

Finding professional and personal balance

The West Coast has the most tremendous people in the firm—of course I am a bit biased. We are passionate about having impact in our client engagements, but we also have a commitment to each other as friends, a commitment to our local communities through our connectivity groups and pro-bono studies, and also to maintain a healthy personal and professional balance.